'Did they see such a strong heart?' No outs, bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th: KKK save. "I wasn't particularly nervous. Just 'Ah, it's over,' that's about it?"

*This content was translated by AI.

Could there be another strong heart like this?

NC Dinos pitcher Bae Jae-hwan (31), who prevented a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the 9th, remained just as calm.

Bae Jae-hwan took the mound as the team's sixth pitcher in the game against Kiwoom Heroes at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on the 10th. NC started the bottom of the 9th leading 4-0, but allowed a comeback to 4-2 due to struggles by Ryu Jin-wook and Song Myung-gi.

With no outs and bases loaded, as Song Myung-gi fell behind 2-0 in the count against Hyura, the NC bench quickly brought in Bae Jae-hwan. Hyura had a batting average in scoring position of an astounding 0.727 (11 at-bats, 8 hits, 3 home runs) up to the previous day, and notably hit a three-run home run off Bae Jae-hwan in the bottom of the 5th inning of the game the day before (9th).

In a moment that seemed to revive the nightmare of the previous day's walk-off loss, Bae Jae-hwan struck out Hyura with a forkball on the sixth pitch. The next batter, Im Byung-wook, also struck out with a forkball on the fifth pitch. Then, Lee Hyung-jong was also retired with a swing-and-miss on a fastball on the fourth pitch, securing the team's victory. It was his first save of the season.

After the game, Bae Jae-hwan said, "I wasn't particularly nervous or anything when I came in, but as I got each out one by one, I actually felt more nervous."

Regarding his duel with the first batter, Hyura, he said, "I remembered getting hit by a slider yesterday, so I thought, 'If I don't throw sliders, I won't get hit,' and added, 'Against Im Byung-wook and Lee Hyung-jong, I tried to battle with fastballs and breaking balls I was confident in.'"

When asked, "Are you naturally a strong-hearted pitcher?", Bae Jae-hwan replied with a smile, "Lately, I think I wasn't particularly nervous because I'm pitching with the mindset that I have nothing left to lose. Even after getting the final out, there wasn't much. Just 'Ah, it's over,' that's about it."

Bae Jae-hwan had shown poor form, allowing runs in four consecutive games up to the previous day. His season stats are 3 wins, 1 loss, 1 save, 11 holds in 36 games, with an ERA of 5.08.

He said, "I was aware of the four consecutive games allowing runs recently, but I wasn't greatly shaken. I just thought, 'It's time to stop giving up runs now,' and added, 'That's just my personality...'" with another smile.

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*This content was translated by AI.